Justice Minister Thembi Simelane to ‘clarify VBS issues’ to parliament [VIDEO]

Embattled Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane is expected to explain her involvement in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal in parliament.

She will appear before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development on Friday.

According to the notice sent out by her department’s communications services, Simelane will appear before the committee to “present clarity on issues related to VBS”.

Simelane is also expected to appear before the ANC’s integrity commission to explain her part in the VBS matter.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told eNCA they will get a report from Simelane.

“We’ll get the report and then Thembi will have to go to the integrity commission. We are expecting a full report from her in terms of what has been reported. She has to report to the SG.”

ALSO READ: VBS Bank: Formal complaint laid over Justice Minister Simelane’s ‘dodgy’ loan

“Dodgy loan’

The justice minister allegedly took a R575 600 “commercial loan” from Gundo Wealth Solutions, owned by Ralliom Razwinane. The firm allegedly brokered unlawful investments of R349 million into the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank by the Polokwane Municipality.

Simelane was mayor of the Polokwane Municipality at the time of the transaction in 2016.

The justice minister allegedly used the “loan” to purchase a coffee shop in Sandton.

Razwinane is currently on trial for fraud, corruption and money laundering for his role as a commission agent connecting municipalities, including Polokwane Municipality, with VBS.

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa summons Justice Minister Simelane to explain ‘dodgy’ VBS-linked loan

Clarification

Several opposition parties and civil society organisations last week called for Simelane to urgently clarify corruption allegations that linked her to the VBS scandal.

DA MP and justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach said the party is “deeply concerned by the disturbing revelations” surrounding Simelane.

“At the very least, the minister needs to be brought before parliament to account for what measures she intends to put in place to manage the glaring conflict of interest between herself as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and her role involving the National Prosecuting Authority, which must surely be investigating the minister and this transaction.”

Coffee shop

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa summoned Simelane to provide a detailed report on allegations that link her to the VBS scandal.

ActionSA has also lodged a complaint with the Public Protector against Simelane

Simelane used the “loan” to buy a coffee shop in two transactions in October 2016. The payments appear linked to kickbacks received in exchange for large deposits by Polokwane Municipality into VBS.

The Citizen visited the Fredman Towers office building in Sandton to verify whether Simelane’s coffee shop, called Silvana’s was still operating, but was told the shop had been vacant since last year and only occupied in February this year, when a new tenant moved in.

ALSO READ: DA and Good party gun for Justice Minister Thembi Simelane over dodgy VBS ‘loan’